BILL ANALYSIS Ó
AB 1411
Page 1
CONCURRENCE IN SENATE AMENDMENTS
AB
1411 (Eduardo Garcia)
As Amended July 8, 2015
Majority vote
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|ASSEMBLY: | 74-3 | (June 3, |SENATE: |30-10 | (September 1, |
| | |2015) | | |2015) |
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Original Committee Reference: G.O.
SUMMARY: Requires the State Fire Marshall (SFM), on or before
December 31, 2016, to work with fire service entities, the
appliance industry, disability advocates, and related
stakeholders to gather information regarding type 1 clothes
dryer-related fires and the dangers of excessive lint.
Specifically, this bill:
1)Requires the SFM, on or before December 31, 2016, to work with
fire service entities, the appliance industry, disability
advocates, and related stakeholders to accomplish all of the
following:
a) Gather information regarding type 1 clothes
dryer-related fires and the dangers of excessive lint.
b) Provide findings and recommendations to the Legislature
regarding the information gathered.
AB 1411
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c) Encourage the appropriate clothes dryer fire prevention
standard setting entity to amend an appropriate voluntary
national safety standard to improve fire safety, and to
include provisions based on any recommendations that will
reduce the likelihood of lint-related clothes dryer fires.
2)Defines "type 1 clothes dryer" as an appliance used in a
residential living environment, including one that is
coin-operated for public use in a residential living
environment.
3)Specifies that "type 1 clothes dryer" does not include dryers
used for commercial purposes.
4)Includes a repeal date of January 1, 2017.
5)Makes Legislative findings and declarations.
The Senate amendments:
1)Encourage the appropriate clothes dryer fire prevention
standard setting entity to amend an appropriate voluntary
national safety standard to improve fire safety, and to
include provisions based on any recommendations that will
reduce the likelihood of lint-related clothes dryer fires.
2)Make changes and additions to the Legislative findings and
declarations.
3)Make clarifying changes.
EXISTING LAW:
AB 1411
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1)Establishes the SFM in the Department of Forestry and Fire
Protection and requires the SFM to foster, promote, and
develop ways and means of protecting life and property against
fire and panic.
2)Requires the SFM to adopt regulations and standards necessary
to control the quality and installation of fire alarm systems
and devices marketed, distributed, offered for sale, or sold
in California.
3)Prohibits a person from marketing, distributing, offering for
sale, or selling any fire alarm system or device in this state
unless the system or device has been approved or listed by the
SFM.
AS PASSED BY THE ASSEMBLY, this bill required the SFM to work
with fire service entities, the appliance industry, disability
advocates, and related stakeholders to gather information
regarding type 1 clothes dryer-related fires and the dangers of
excessive lint.
FISCAL EFFECT: According to the Senate Appropriations
Committee, pursuant to Senate Rule 28.8, negligible state costs.
COMMENTS: This bill, as amended in the Senate is consistent
with Assembly actions.
Purpose of the bill. According to the author, "lint is a highly
combustible material. When it accumulates in excess in a
dryer's filter, heat from the dryer can cause it to ignite,
starting a fire that quickly spreads throughout the house.
Keeping the machine clean, and having it regularly serviced, can
help prevent a dryer fire, but it's hard to tell when a
dangerous amount of lint has built up."
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The author further argues that, "detection technology exists
today that monitors the build-up of highly combustible lint
inside the dryer, and alerts consumers with a light and an alarm
sound when accumulation reaches dangerous levels and the dryer
interior requires cleaning or servicing. Unfortunately, no
regulations or standards currently require this technology in
clothes dryers. To address this problem, AB 1411 would
coordinate stakeholders together to study this problem and
provide recommendations to the Legislature regarding a solution
to prevent future fires resulting from lint accumulation."
Type 1 Dryers. Type 1 dryers are domestic dryers, which are
primarily used in residences, individual apartments or
condominiums. According to the National Fire Protection
Association (NFPA), lint and other debris can build up in a
dryer's hose and vent duct, reducing airflow, backing up exhaust
gases and eventually creating a fire. In addition, many newer
homes tend to have dryers located away from an outside wall: in
bedrooms, kitchens, bathrooms and hall closets. This results in
longer dryer venting conduit hidden in walls and ceilings. This
increases the risk of lint accumulations inside inaccessible
areas. The dryer has to work harder to force the air up the
wall, across the ceiling to the outside exhaust hood. Cleaning
the lint trap after every use will only remove a portion of lint
generated. Over time, even with proper care, lint will collect
inside a dryer's lint filter housing and restrict the airflow,
increasing the risk of overheating and fires. When an
obstruction builds up in the vent line, it reduces the airflow
of the dryer. Once the airflow of the dryer becomes reduced,
the dryer can overheat and induce a fire.
According to the NFPA, in 2010 an estimated 16,800 reported
United States non-confined or confined home structures fires
involved clothes dryers or washing machines resulted in 51
civilian deaths, 380 civilian injuries and $236 million in
direct property damage in the Unites States. The NFPA also
states that clothes dryers accounted for 92% of the fires and
the leading cause of home clothes dryer and washer fires was
failure to clean, at approximately 32 %.
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Prior/Related Legislation: SB 763 (Leno) of the current
legislative session, requires a juvenile product manufacturer,
as defined, to include a label indicating whether the product
has added flame retardant chemicals, and requires the Bureau of
Electronic and Appliance Repair, Home Furnishing and Thermal
Insulation to ensure compliance with labeling and documentation
requirements, as specified. (Pending in Assembly Appropriations
Committee)
SB 1019 (Leno), Chapter 862, Statutes of 2014, required an
upholstered furniture manufacturer to indicate on the product
label whether or not a product contains added flame retardant
chemicals, by including a specified statement.
AB 127 (Skinner), Chapter 579, Statutes of 2013002C required the
SFM to review the flammability standards for building insulation
materials and if deemed appropriate by the SFM based on this
review require the SFM to by July 1, 2015, propose updating
insulation flammability standards to the Building Standards
Commission.
Analysis Prepared by:
Eric Johnson / G.O. / (916) 319-2531 FN:
0001428